Italy, UAE and Iran uncertainty: Could Nigeria’s Super Eagles still sneak into 2026 World Cup?

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Italy, Denmark and the UAE failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but there could still be a late route back for some nations, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles missed out on the 2026 tournament after a troubled campaign that never truly found stability.

Nigeria’s problems began early in the qualifying series. Draws against smaller teams such as Lesotho and Zimbabwe put the Super Eagles under pressure from the very start. Matches that should have been routine wins instead became missed opportunities.

Off the pitch, things were not much better. There were frequent changes in leadership, with Jose Peseiro, Finidi George, and later Eric Chelle all taking charge at different points. This lack of continuity made it hard for the team to build a clear style of play.

Administrative issues also affected preparations, including disputes over bonuses. These distractions only added to the instability around the squad.

Despite a late push, including an impressive 4-0 win over Benin, Nigeria finished second in their group behind South Africa. That meant a place in the playoffs, where everything came down to one decisive match.

In Rabat, Nigeria faced DR Congo in a tense final. Frank Onyeka gave the Super Eagles an early lead, but DR Congo responded through Meschack Elia. The match ended 1-1 after extra time.

A major turning point came when Victor Osimhen was forced off with injury at half-time. Without their main striker, Nigeria struggled to create chances. The game went to penalties, where misses from Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi sealed a painful 4-3 defeat.

FIFA’s possible emergency plan

While Nigeria’s exit seemed final, a new twist has emerged. Reports, including one from The Athletic (via Goal), suggest FIFA is considering an emergency plan if Iran withdraws from the World Cup.

Iran’s participation has come under doubt due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Although FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said the team is expected to play, there are concerns about whether the situation could change at short notice.

If Iran does pull out, FIFA may organise a special playoff involving teams that failed to qualify. According to the proposal, two teams from Europe and two from Asia would compete for the vacant spot.

This could open the door for Italy, who missed out after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United Arab Emirates is also being mentioned as a possible participant from Asia.

Such a move would be unusual and would mark a rare case of a last-minute qualification route being created.

Nigeria: Why a broader playoff could be fairer

While the reported plan focuses on Europe and Asia, it raises an important question of whether other strong teams who narrowly missed out should also be included.

Based on the latest rankings, the four best teams not going to the World Cup are Italy, Denmark, Nigeria, and Poland. These are all sides with strong football pedigree and competitive squads.

A playoff involving the top four highest-ranked teams who failed to qualify, regardless of continent, could be seen as a fairer solution. It would ensure that the final place goes to the strongest available team, rather than being limited by geography.

Certainly, such an approach would offer a genuine second chance for Nigeria. The Super Eagles are the highest-ranked African team to miss out and showed enough quality, especially in their late surge, to suggest they can compete at the highest level.

More importantly, it would give fans a sense that qualification is decided not just by circumstance, but by merit.

As things stand, Nigeria remain on the outside looking in. But if FIFA does move forward with any form of emergency playoff, the debate over who deserves a place at the World Cup is far from over.